Loading machine



May 17, 1960 J. J. DOUGLASSJ LOADING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1956 E WM.

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LOADING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i J i Fl G. 8

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' LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 g liztx g INVENTOR r- JOHN J. DOUGLASS L BY I May 17, 1960 Filed Sept. 4. 1956 J. J. DOUGLASS LOADING MACHINE as a1 M89 as 9| F l G. l2

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75 INVENTOR JOHN J. DOUGLASS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 LoAmNG MACHHNE John J. Douglass, Pitman, N.J., assignor to E. L du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Deb, a corporation of Delaware Application September 4, 1956, Serial No. 607,674

' 4 Claims. (Cl. sag-20 The present invention relates to an improved explosives loading machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a high-speed explosives loading machine for long length cartridges.

Explosive cartridges in lengths up to about 12 inches have long been prepared by machine loading the powder into paper shells; The conventional machines use a tamp action to introduce and pack the powder in the shell to the proper density. These machines are all variations of the original Hall machine and use a plurality of-tamp rods reciprocated vertically from a position above the powder level in loading hoppers to a'position at the powder level in the shell positionedunder an opening in the powder hopper. Friction clamps are used to secure the tamp rods to the carrying cross head so .that their length will be adjusted to compensatefor the rising powder level in the shell after each stroke, and the amount of friction determines the packing pressure.

Machines of the foregoing type have a definite limitation on the amount of speed-up possible because the tamp becomes a hammer rather than a press athigh speed, and because the relatively long stroke required for the tamping action makes guiding the rod at high speed diflicult. Because the stroke of the tamp rod I must exceed the length of the shell being loaded in orthe entire assembly. Figure 2 represents a schematic view of a portion of the assembly; Figure 3 represents an enlarged schematic partially sectional view of a por-I tion of the assembly, Figure 4 represents an enlarged top view from directly above the powder funnels,Figure 5 represents a top view of the ceiling plate indicating the positions of the valve cams; Figures 6 and 7 represent schematic vi'ews of the drive mechanism arrangement, Figure 8 represents a sectional view of the carriage arrangement, Figure 9 represents a schematic view of the rotary joint and valve connections, and Figure 10 represents an air flow diagram for the tamping arrangement. Figures 11 and 12 show details of the tamping head;

' Because of the complexity of the assembly, schematic illustration has been used in several instances to avoid confusion due to the multiplicity of items and angular displacement resulting from the cylindrical contour of theassembly. Insuch illustration, the background items have not been shown and portions of the components have been shown by outline or symbolically rather than by actual configuration.

2 Referring to the drawings in greater detail,"1 repre'- sents a base housing resting on the floor and supporting turntable 2 through bearings 3. Turntable '2 is rotated by main shaft 4 to which it is connected by flange 5,

this flange resting on support bearing 6 attached to base housing 1. The lower end of shaft 4 is within a bearing (not shown), also attached to base housing 1. Shell positioners 8 are evenly spaced about turntable 2,, being guided by bushings 9. The space between the platform of the shell positioners 8 and the bushing 9 is protected against entrance of powder by flexible accordion-type jackets 10. At the lower end of each shell positioner 8 is a cam wheel 11 and mounted on base housing 1 is cam track 12. The rotation of turntable 2 causes the raising or lowering of the shell positioners 8 according to the height of the cam track 12. Attached to the shell positioners 8 are the shell spacers 13. By using spacers 13 of the appropriate length, the assembly can readily be adapted to handle shells of any specific length within the range of the assembly. Supported on the spacers 13 are the shells 14 being loaded with powder 15, Above shells 14 is the funnel board 16 mounting the funnels;

17, the funnel board 16 being supported on main shaft 4 by flange 18. Between the funnel board 16.and turntable 2 is powder shield 19, and fastened to powdershield 19 are the shell supports 20.

Powder hopper 21 supported on framework 22 directs powder to the funnels 17. Shell conveyor 23 containing adjustable shell platforms 24 and shell carryarms 25 feeds the shells to the shell spacers 13 past shell guide plates 26 and on guide platform 27. The

shells come off the assembly past guide plates 28. The conveyor is driven through chain 29 and sprockets 30.

In axial alignment to funnels 17 are the tamp arms.

31 carrying the tamp heads 32. The tamp arms 31 pass through guide bushings 33 in guide plate 34. the maximum downward travel of the arms 31 being limited by ada justable stop 35. The tamp arms depend from the.

carriage assemblies 36 which are slidably' supportedby guide rods 37. The guide rods 37 are fastened to the guide plate 34 and to top plate 38. The entire space, between plates 34 and 38 is enclosed by dust shield;

39, and the space between guide plate 34' and" funnel board 16 behind the funnels 17 by powder shield- 40. Connected to the carriage assemblies 36 are the air hoses 41 via valves 42 and hoses 43 via valves 44.

The valves 42 are connected to a manifold'45 via tubes 46 and the valves 44 via tubes 47. Valves. 42 and 44. are interconnected by tubes 48. Valves 42 also con tain exhaust ports 42a (Fig. 9). Air enters manifold 45 from the rotary joint 49 to which it is fed from either line 50 or 51. Rotary joint 49 passes through ceiling plate 52 and supports the upper end of shaft 4. The operation of valves 42 is controlled by cam tracks 53 and the operation of valves 44 is controlled by cam tracks '54, both being fastened to ceiling plate 52. 7

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, main shaft 4 is rotated through drive sprocket 55 from drive gear 561via chain 57. The drive gear 56 is fastened to drive shaft158 which terminates in cam clutch 59. Clutch 59 'isa conventional clutch which connects a motive shaft to the 64 is also mounted on shaft 58, and, .via chain 129 and 2,936,669 Patented May 17,1960

- 3 air through pilot valve 68 and lines 71 or 72 to air cylinder 63.

Figure 8 illustrates in detail the carriage assembly labeled 36 in Figures 1, 2, and 3. r'l he assembly includes tamp cylinder 73 containing piston 74 connected to tamp arm 31, brake cylinder 75 containing spring return piston 76 connected to brake plunger 77, and carriage housing 78 containing guide bearings 79 for guide rods 37, brake shoes 80, brake heads 81, and brake springs 82. Air ports 83 and 84 permit air to pass to or from the bottom or top respectively of piston 74, and air ports 85 permit air to pass to or from the top of piston 76.

Figure 9 represents schematically a detail view of the rotary joint 49 and manifold 45. The bearings and seals used are conventional and are not specifically enumerated.

Figure is a schematic fiow diagram of the air feed system to the tampering mechanism. 86 is an air feed line to rotary air motor 87 which rotates cam wheel 88 through speed reducer 89. Rotation of carn wheel 88 causes alternate actuation of valves 90 and 91. This alternation regulates pilot valve 92 so that air from main line 93 is alternately fed to either feed line 50 or 51, and, through the rotary joint 49 and the manifold 45, alternately to air lines 46 and 47. Pilot valve 92 also opens lines 50 and 51 to exhaust when air is being fed to the alternate line.

The operation of the assembly of this invention is as follows, assuming start-up has been completed. An operator places an empty shell 14 upright on platform 24 of conveyor 29. The shell is carried by conveyor 29 until it' is diverted by guide shield 26 and is pushed along guide platform 27 by other shells from the conveyor 29 until it rests on shell spacer 13. The rotation of tumtable 2, and, correspondingly of shell positioners 8 moves the shell around the assembly. At the position marked A in Figure 4, cam wheel 11 of shell positioner 8 reaches a raised portion of cam track 12, thus raising shell positioner 8, shell spacer 13, and shell 14 until the latter is in engagement with the underside of funnel 17. The cam track 12 maintains this height until about position B, at which point the shell 14, now loaded with powder is lowered and led to the conveyor 29 and removed by the operator. In the portion of the loading cycle between positions A and B of the shell 14, the powder 15 is introduced and tamped.

The operation of the tamping portion of the assembly is as follows: Air under pressure alternately enters rotary joint 49 through either line 50 or line 51 and exhausts through the alternate line. The air entering through line 50 is led to the lower section of manifold 45 and to tubes 46. Tubes 46 lead the air into air valves 42, which in the released position feed the air through hoses 41 to ports 83 of tamp cylinder 73 and to ports 85 of brake cylinder 75. The pressure provided above piston 76 forces plunger 77 downward, thus forcing brakeheads 81 towards guide rods 37. This action presses brake shoes 80 into tight engagement with guide rods 37, causing the assembly 36 to be held stationary with respect to guide rods 37. The air entering ports 83 acts on the bottom of piston 74, thereby raising tamp arm 31. When line 50 is opened to exhaust through pilot valve 92, the air travels in a reverse direction. The release of pressure over piston 76 permits plunger 77 to return to the position shown in Figure 8, thus releasing the brake pressure of shoes 80 on guide rods 37. The release of the brake permits the crosshead assembly 36 to slide down the guide rods 37 until the downward movement of tamp rod 31 is stopped, either by stop 35 reaching bushing 33 or by the tamp head 32 reaching the tamped level of powder 15 in shell 14. Concurrently with the exhaust of air through line 50, air under pressure is being introduced through line 51. This air travels through rotary joint 49 to the upper portion of manifold 45 and into tubes 47. The tubes 47 lead to valves 44, which, when not actuated,

tive to guide rods 37 during the lifting of tamp arm 31 and falling during the down stroke of tamp arm 31.

Powder 15 from hopper 21 flows into the funnels 17, and, due to the reciprocating motion of tamp arms 31 and the grooves 32a (Figs. 11 and 12) in tamp head 32, on past tamp head 32 to be packed into shell 14. As the level of powder 15 rises in shell 14, the carriage assembly 36 is moved even higher by the downward stroke of tamp arm 31, but the tamp head 32 does notrise above the powder level in funnel 17 until the shell 14 is substantially filled. The short stroke required, even with very long shells, permits rapid and uniform tamping. The weight of crosshead assembly and the tamping speed control the cartridge density.

In order to permit removal of the loaded shell 15 at the end of the loading portion, the reciprocation of tamp arm 31 must be stopped. This is accomplished by actuation of valves 44 through cam track 54. When valve 44 is actuated, air from hose 47 is directed through tube 48 to valve 42. Air from tube 46 also goes to valve 42, so that alternation of air from manifold 45 does not result in a stoppage of flow of air into hose 41. This constant flow maintains pressure above piston 76 of brake cylinder 75, thus locking crosshead assembly 36 at its highest position. The flow of air also acts on piston 74 of tamp cylinder 73 to maintain the tamp arm 31 in the raised position.

As shown in Fig. 5, cam track 54 extends from the portion of the rotary cycle when the shell 14 is filled to the portion when a new shell 14 has reached a shell spacer 13. Thus, valve 44 remains actuated, holding tamp assembly 36 and tamp arm 31 in a raised position. Concurrently with the release of valve 44 by end of cam track 54, valve 42 is actuated by cam track 53. This actuation opens exhaust port 42a so that air from line 41 is exhausted through port 42a and at the same time air flow from line 46 is stopped. Thus, during actuation of valve 42, no pressure is applied to brake piston 76, and carriage assembly is free to slide down guide rods 36 until the stop on tamp arm 31 abuts bushing 33. When valves 42 pass cam track 53 and are released, normal reciprocation commences.

While not shown, it may be desirable to incorporate a warning or stopping switch which will alert the operator in the event carriage assembly 36 has not been raised sufliciently to clear shell 14 when valve 44 is actuated. This situation might occur if for any reason suflicient powder 15 has not been introduced into shell 14. It is obvious that attempted removal of the shell 14 would be undesirable while tamp arm 31 projected even partially into the top thereof.

The rotary speed of turntable 2 and funnel board 16 has no eifect on the operation of the tamping mechanism, other than in controlling the duration of the tamping cycle. Synchronization of the conveyor speed and the turntable speed is readily maintained inasmuch as both are driven by the same shaft.

Using twenty-four-inch long shells (3 inch diameter) and a free-flowing powder, alternation of air at the tamp mechanism of 60 per minute to provide sixty tamps per minute and a turntable rotation rate of 30 per hour was satisfactory. Tamping speeds of per minute and up to one revolution of the turntable per minute could have been used with a faster powder feed rate from the hopper. When 36 inch shells are loaded, the rotational speed of the turntable must be decreased to 20 per hour vibrators or agitators may be installed at the funnels to insure even flow of powder.

Iclaim:

-1. An apparatus of the type described comprising a rotary turntable, a series of shell-positioning platforms circumferentially disposed on said turntable, a conveyor for, continuously loading empty elongated shells onto said platforms in an upright position and for continuously carrying away loaded shells from said platforms, motive means to simultaneously drive said conveyor and rotate said rotary turntable, funnels mounted on said apparatus above the shell-positioning platforms for loading powder into the open upper ends of said elongated shells, and a separate tamp mechanism slidably mounted on a pair of vertical guide rods and positioned over each shell-positioning platform, each said tamp mechanism having a vertically adjustable carriage and a tamp arm with a grooved tampinghead at"its .lower end mounted for vertical reciprocation on said vertically adjustable carriage, and fluid control means for reciprocating said tamp head to tamp the powder in the shell and for segmentally adjusting the vertical position of the carriage as the powder level in the shell rises, said tamp head remaining within the actual confines of the shell at all times until the shell is fully loaded, said fluid control means, including a pneumatic piston to which the tamp arm is connected such that air pressure on the downward face of the piston will elevate the tamp arm, and. a pneumatically actuated brake for holding said carriage in position on said guide rods during each elevation of I the tamp arm.

2. Anvapparatus :of the type described comprising a pair of vertical guide rods and positioned over each shellpositioning platform, each said tamp mechanism having a vertically adjustable carriage and a tamp arm-with a V grooved tamping head at its lower end mounted for vertical reciprocation on said vertically adjustable carriage,

and fluid control means for reciprocating said tamp head to tamp the powder in theshell and for segmentally adjusting the vertical position of the carriage as the powder level in the shell rises, said tamp head remaining within the actual confines of the shell at all times until the shell is fully loaded, said fluid control means including a vertical pneumatic cylinder, a reciprocable piston in said cylinder to which the upper end of the tamp arm 7 is connected, a pneumatically operated brake for holding i rotary turntable, a series of shell-positioning platforms said carriage in position on said guide rods during each T elevation of the tamp arm, an air supply means forele f vating said piston and the tamp arm aflixed thereto and for intermittently actuating and deactuating said brake to hold said carriage in position on said guide rods-during each elevation of the tamp arm whileallowin-g it to rise on said guide rods during the downward stroke of the tamp arm.

3. A shell loading machine comprising rotary support means for an upright open-ended shell, a powder supply for feeding powder into the open upper end of the shell,

a tamp mechanism slidingly mounted on a pair or vertical guide rods and positioned overthe shell, said tamp mechanism having a vertically adjustable carriage and a tamp arm with a grooved tamping head at its lower end mounted for vertical reciprocation on said vertically adjustable carriage, said tamp head remaining within the actual confines of the shell at all times until the shell is fully loaded, and fluid control means for reciprocating the tamp arm to tamp the powder in the shell and for adjusting the vertical position of the carriage as the powder level in the shell rises, said fluid control" means including a vertical pneumatic piston" to which the tamp arm is connected such that air pressure on the downward face of the piston will elevate the tamp arm and a pneumatically actuated brake for momentarily holding said carriage in position on said guide rods during each up-stroke of the tamp arm.

4. A shell loading machine comprising rotary support?- I means for an upright open-ended shell, a powder supply for feeding powder into the open upper end' of the shell, a tamp mechanism slidingly mounted on a pair of vertical guide rods and positioned over the shell, said tamp mechanism having a vertically adjustable carriage and a tamp arm with a grooved tamping head at its lower end mounted for vertical reciprocation on said vertically adjustable carriage, said tamp head remainingwithin the actual confines of the shell at all times until the shell is fully loaded, and fluid control means for reciprocating the tamp arm to tamp the powder in the shell and for adjusting the vertical position of the carriage as the powder level in the shell rises, said fluid control I means including a vertical pneumatic cylinder, a reciprocable piston in said cylinder to which the upper end of the tamp arm is connected, a pneumatically operated brake for momentarily holding said carriage in position on said guide rods during each up-stroke of the tamp arm; 7 and an air supply means for elevating saidpiston and the tamp arm affixed thereto and for intermittently actuating and deactuating said brake to hold said carriage in position on said guide rods during each up-stroke of the tamp arm.

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Oct. 23, 

